Astros can’t stop freefall against Indians

CLEVELAND – Erik Bedard had no luck in his attempt to stop the Astros’ tailspin Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Nimitz High graduate Michael Bourn hit a two-run triple as the Indians took control with a four-run rally in the sixth inning, overcoming an early deficit to complete the four-game sweep with a 9-2 victory to extend the Astros’ season-high losing streak to nine games.

Righthander Corey Kluber (10-5) held the Astros to six hits and two runs with one walk and six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings for the victory. Showing the importance of the game to the Indians, Cleveland manager Terry Francona mixed and matched with seven relievers over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Bedard (4-12) gave up eight hits and six runs with two walks and eight strikeouts over five innings. Chris Carter led off the second with a home run to left to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. Marc Krauss got the attack going in the fourth with a leadoff double to left-center field. Carter followed with a walk, and Matt Dominguez loaded the bases with a single to right.

Krauss gave the Astros a 2-0 lead on Trevor Crowe’s double play grounder to second.

“Again, their pitcher made a good pitch and we hit into a groundball double play,” Astros manager Bo Porter said. “In that situation you’re hoping to get two or three runs and you end up only getting one run out of it.”

The Indians countered with three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good. After Jason Kipnis led off with a single to left, Carlos Santana hit an RBI double to right-center field. One out later, Asdrubal Cabrera walked.

“I felt good,” Bedard said. “I threw strikes and got some outs early and got in trouble in the fourth and gave up a couple of runs.”

Bedard struck out Yan Gomes, but Michael Brantley hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the score. Mike Aviles gave the Indians a 3-2 lead with an RBI single to left.

The Indians jumped on Bedard again in the sixth when Cabrera led off with a single to left, Gomes was hit by a pitch and Brantley hit an RBI single to center to prompt a call to the bullpen. Phil Humber was called on to face Aviles, who sacrificed. Bourn then hit a two-run triple to right to make it 6-2 before scoring on Nick Swisher’s sacrifice fly to center.

“To be honest, I didn’t realize it was that many in a row,” Krauss said. “It’s frustrating. We played a lot of good teams here, especially down the stretch. I feel like we’ve been in a lot of them, too, and that’s the frustrating part. Just a lot of tough losses, especially lately.

“You’ve just got to continue to push forward and learn from it, and hopefully we’re in those positions in the year to come where we’re pushing towards the playoffs and knocking some people out.”

Lyles makes final start Monday

Astros righthander Jordan Lyles will make his final start of the season Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.

“Just want to finish the season on a high note and go out with a good outing,” Lyles (7-8, 5.26 ERA) said. “Other than that, it’s not really different than any other start. Just trying to get outs and trying to put up a quality start and try to keep our team in the ballgame.

“I guess it’s your latest outing and the last one you remember in the offseason. For the most part you’re going to look at the whole year with everything together and not just one outing. I’ve had some ups and downs this year. I’m just really looking forward to putting this last start together and going into the offseason with a new mindset and having a good spring training and getting off to a good start next year.”

All the members of the six-man rotation are set to make their last starts during the final six-game stretch, which begins Monday night with Lyles against the Rangers.

“I think it’s very important,” he said. “Obviously you’re going to look at your body of work, but ending on a positive would be good for all of these guys through the last turn in the rotation.”

Stearns happy for Tribe’s turnaround

Assistant general manager David Stearns, who was the Indians’ director of baseball operations for a year and a half before joining the Astros, enjoyed somewhat of a homecoming in Cleveland during the four-game series.

“It’s great to see all the guys,” he said. “They’re having a tremendous season. I’m obviously very happy for them. They’ve worked very hard and they deserve the success and they’re enjoying it. Once we get out of here, I’ll be rooting for them the rest of the way.”

Porter already thinking about 2014 season

Bo Porter has already started the process of meeting individually with players to discuss expectations heading into next season.

“I’ve actually started it and it will continue throughout the course of this week as we wind down,” Porter said. “Actually I talked to a few guys today and I’ve kind of had those conversations sparingly throughout the last couple of weeks.

“We talk about their season, talk about offseason goals, talk about next year and just tell them some of the things that we talk about as a staff of what it is we believe that they can do to take the next step and talk about team goals as well.”

Those meetings aren’t necessarily in the manager’s office.

“Some of them actually have happened outside here during batting practice,” he said. “Some of them have been in the office and some of them have been just sitting around just waiting for batting practice, even on the bench.”

<center><strong>Sept. 21: Indians 4, Astros 1</center></strong><br>
Jose Altuve #27 runs to first on a ground ball as second baseman Jason Kipnis #22 of the Indians forces out Jonathan Villar #6 of the Astros and throws to first for the double play. less

<center><strong>Sept. 21: Indians 4, Astros 1</center></strong><br>
Jose Altuve #27 runs to first on a ground ball as second baseman Jason Kipnis #22 of the Indians forces out Jonathan Villar #6 of the ... more

Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images

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Michael Brantley #23 of the Indians hits a two run home run.

Michael Brantley #23 of the Indians hits a two run home run.

Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images

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Michael Brantley #23 of the Indians rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run.

Michael Brantley #23 of the Indians rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run.

Photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images

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Yan Gomes comes home to score behind Astros catcher Cody Clark on a single by Lonnie Chisenhall.

Yan Gomes comes home to score behind Astros catcher Cody Clark on a single by Lonnie Chisenhall.

Photo: Mark Duncan / Associated Press

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Astros manager Bo Porter waits with his infield during a pitching change.

Astros manager Bo Porter waits with his infield during a pitching change.

Photo: Mark Duncan / Associated Press

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Terry Francona, center, and trainer Lonnie Soloff check on Yan Gomes (10) after he was hit by a pitch.

Terry Francona, center, and trainer Lonnie Soloff check on Yan Gomes (10) after he was hit by a pitch.

Photo: Mark Duncan / Associated Press

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Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tumbles over Jonathan Villar (6) after throwing to first to complete a double play on Jose Altuve.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis tumbles over Jonathan Villar (6) after throwing to first to complete a double play on Jose Altuve.